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Lettuces are annual, low-growing plants; they usually have green leaves, although some cultivars have red or reddish-green leaves.
There are several distinct types, Cos (romaine) lettuces have long, substantial, well-flavoured leaves with fairly loose hearts; semi-cos are shorter with very sweet, crunchy leaves. Butterhead lettuces have smooth, soft leaves, forming a rounded, compact heart; crispheads (known as icebergs when marketed with the outer leaves removed) have crispy leaves forming a heart. Loose-leaf lettuces, typified by the "salad bowl" types, do not form hearts so are slow to bolt and may be cut over a long period; their leaves are often indented and are very decorative. They are the most nutritious form of lettuce and may also be used for cut-and-come-again seedling crops.
Lettuces vary from 10cm (4in) to over 30cm (12in) in spread. The cos types are about 25cm (10in) tall, others about 15cm (6in) high. Lettuces are primarily used as salad vegetables, but outer and older leaves may also be cooked or used in soups.
Lettuces are cool-season crops, growing best at 10 - 20 degrees celsius (50 - 68 degrees fahrenheit). Cool nights are essential for good results. Some cultivars are tolerant of heat or frost. Germination is poor above 25 degrees celsius (77 degrees fahrenheit);
at these temperatures, plants tend to bolt rapidly and may become bitter, although loose-leaf lettuces are slower to bolt than other types.
Grow in an open site, or in light shade in very hot weather. Lettuces need fertile, moisture-retentive soil and, although they fall into none of the rotation groups, should not be grown in the same patch of soil for two years in a row to prevent the build-up of fungus disease. They require medium nitrogen.
--------------------------------------------------------------- SOWING AND PLANTING ---------------------------------------------------------------
Cultivars appropriate for the season must be sown. For a year-round supply in cool climates, sow from early spring to late summer at two- to three-week intervals. At the end of summer or in early autumn, sow hardy cultivars that overwinter outdoors or under cover for a spring crop. In warm climates, only heat-tolerant cultivars should be sown during the summer.
In cool climates, sow seed in situ, in a seedbed, or in trays or modules for transplanting. Sowings in summer are best made in situ, since seedlings wilt when transplanted unless they have been raised in modules. Seed may become dormant in high temperatures; this is most likely to occur several hours after sowing and may be overcome by watering after sowing to cool the soil, by putting seed trays or modules in a cool place to germinate, or by sowing seed in the afternoon so that the critical period occurs at night when temperatures are lower.
Transplant lettuces in moist conditions when they have five or six leaves, with the base of the leaves positioned just above soil level. In hot weather, shade young plants until they are established. Space small cultivars 15cm (6in) apart, and larger ones about 30cm (12in) apart.
Sow hardy cultivars for overwintering outdoors in situ or under cloches or in frames; thin to about 7cm (3in) apart in autumn and to the full distance apart in spring. Floating mulches or cloches put over the plants in spring improve their quality, and help them to mature earlier.
Most types of lettuce may be grown as cut-and-come-again seedling crops, especially loose-leaf types, including the traditional European "cutting" cultivars, and some cos types.
Keep lettuce beds weed-free. Apply a nitrogenous fertilizer or organic liquid feed if growth is slow. In dry conditions, water the plants at a rate of 22 litres/sq m (5 gallons/sq yd) per week. The most critical watering period is about seven to ten days before maturity. In late autumn or early winter, protect lettuces with cloches to improve the quality of the crop.
--------------------------------------------------------------- BUGS AND DISEASES ---------------------------------------------------------------
Birds may attack the seedlings. Some cultivars show aphid resistance and others show some tolerance to mosaic virus and downymildew.
--------------------------------------------------------------- GROWING UNDER COVER ---------------------------------------------------------------
In cool climates, earlier lettuce crops may be obtained by sowing or planting in early spring in an unheated greenhouse, beneath cloches or perforated fleecy films, or in cold frames. Some cultivars may also be grown under cover in winter for early spring cropping; for mid-winter crops, gentle heat is usually required.
--------------------------------------------------------------- HARVESTING AND STORING ---------------------------------------------------------------
Loose-leaf lettuces should be ready about seven weeks after sowing, butterheads after 10 or 11 weeks, and cos and crispheads after 11 or 12 weeks. Cut cos, butterhead, and crisphead types soon after maturing to prevent bolting. They may be stored for a few days in a refrigerator. Pick the leaves of loose-leaf types a few at a time, as required, since they do not store well, or cut across the plants 2.5cm (2in) above soil level, leaving the stumps to resprout within a few weeks.
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